Suction manifold for the lickerin section of a carding machine

ABSTRACT

A suction manifold assembly to be disposed above the lickerin cover of a carding machine between the latter and the flats chain bight thereabove, defining a plenum chamber of triangular vertical cross-section spanning the width of the carding machine. A first suction intake slot is provided at the lower corner of the plenum chamber above the feed roll and an extension of the lower wall of the plenum chamber defines with another wall thereof a V-shaped trough having another suction intake slot at its apex to collect trash falling from the flats chain bight.

United States Patent Sloan 1 1 July25, 1972 SUCTION MANIFOLD FOR THE LICKERIN SECTION OF A CARDING MACHINE [72) Inventor: Donald A. Sloan, Winston-Salem. NC.

[73] Assignee: The Blhnson Company, Winston-Salem,

[22] Filed: Aug. 28, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 67,9[4

[s21 U.s.C1.... "19 107 51 InLCI... ..m...... .,D0lgl5/76 [58] FleldofSe-reh ..19 |07 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.357.062 l2/l967 ONealetal ..19/1o7 3,553,791 1 1971 King,Jr. ..19/107 1 e A A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2/1966 Great Britain ..l9/l07 6/1967 Great Britain ..l9/I07 Primary ExaminerDo|sey Newton Attorney-Mason. Fewick 8L Lawrence [57] ABSTRACT A suction manifold assembly to be disposed above the lickerin cover of a carding machine between the latter and the flats chain bight thereabove, defining a plenum chamber of triangular vertical cross-section spanning the width of the carding machine. A first suction intake slot is provided at the lower corner of the plenum chumber above the feed roll and an extension of the lower wall of the plenum chamber defines with another wall thereof a V-shaped trough having another suction intake slot at its apex to collect trash falling from the flats chain bight.

17 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIED JUL25 I972 INVENTOR NALD SLOAN A TTORN E Y6 mEmEums-wn 3.678.538 SHEEI 2 0f 3 2' INVEATOR D D SL-OAN ATTORNEYS PATENIED M125 l9?! 3.678.538 f-JHIH 3 U! 3 1,111,111 1111,, IIIII 111 11171 111 I N VENTOR DONALD A. SLOAN SUCTION MANIFOLD FOR THE LICKERIN SECTION OF A CARDING MACHINE BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to pneumatic cleaning of carding machines, and more particularly to suction manifold structure for the lickerin section of a carding machine for pneumatically capturing and removing dust-like trash and fly being discharged from or released at the lickerin region of the carding machine during operation.

Much effort has been devoted to the elimination or reduction of escape of fly and trash, usually in the form of a mixture of short waste fibers and assorted dust and trash particles, from carding machines, especially as the problem of fiber and trash escape increases with increasing speeds of operation of the carding machine. It is important to eliminate or minimize the escape of such fibers and trash into the air in the textile machinery room, as the resultant contamination would product unhealthy working conditions for the operators, impair the quality of the sliver because of intermingling of the trash therewith, and cause deposits of the contaminants on the machinery in the room, creating fire hazards and interference with proper operation of the machinery.

Various pneumatic cleaning devices have been proposed to effect suction withdrawal of fly and trash from various portions of carding machines to reduce the escape of the fly into the surrounding atmosphere and withdraw it before it becomes intermingled with the sliver. Most frequently, this has taken the form of several pneumatic suction pipes extending transversely across the carding machine and connected to a suction source, the pipes having slots extending along their full length and located in specific zones which form predominant sources of fly and trash escape. To effectively capture and remove the fly and trash from the many locations in the carding machine where discharge of trash and fly is prevelant, both in the lickerin region and in the delivery end region of the carding machine, requires a large number of such pipes disposed at many different locations, since such narrow suction slots are capable of withdrawing trash and fly from only a very limited distance immediately adjacent the slot. Examples of prior efforts to effect pneumatic removal of trash and fly from limited zones are found in the Griswold U.S. Pat. No. 2,683,90l, Hayes U. 8. Pat. No. 2,774,994, Fowler et al. U. 8. Pat. No. 3,212,138, and ONeal et al. U. 8. Pat. No. 3,357,062.

Particular effort has been devoted to the design of pneumatic cleaning equipment for preventing or reducing the escape of fly and similar trash from the lickerin region of the carding machine, as especially troublesome discharge of trash and fly occurs in this region. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the lickerin section of the conventional card ing machine includes a lickerin cylinder which rotates at high speed beneath a lickerin cover or bonnet and has teeth on its periphery to draw the cotton as fibers or tufts from a lap being fed thereto between a feed roll and feed plate, and convey them downwardly in an arcuate path past mote knives to a main cylinder or swift. There, some of the cotton is transferred directly to the main cylinder, and some of it is impinged against the sharp knife edges of a back knife plate adjacent the main cylinder periphery and retained momentarily. Any cotton that is not immediately picked up off the knife edge or by the main cylinder is wiped off the knife edge by the rotating lickerin cylinder and is conveyed under the lickerin cover back to its original feed end location. Thus, a large quantity of usable fiber is being conveyed in a circular manner at all times underneath the lickerin cover and any opening in this cover will allow usable fibers to escape to the atmosphere. Obviously, there is also a large amount of waste spinning around this lickerin cylinder underneath the lickerin cover along with the cotton, and such waste tends to be centrifuged out to the outermost possible location. The slight separation or spacing at the junction between the exit edge of the lickerin cover and the back plate of the card, and at the junction between the feed roll and the adjacent entrance edge of the lickerin cover each constitute junction openings or spaces through which this trash can escape.

Blowout of cotton and fly from the junction between the lickerin cover and the back knife plate has been reduced by providing a filler strip of generally triangular cross-section to attempt to seal the junction between the lickerin cover and the back knife plate against escape of fly and to prevent pepper trash from accumulating at the juncture between these two elements. Prior art efforts to minimize blowout in the region of the feed roll and the adjacent entrance edge of the lickerin cover by providing a rotating seal roller bearing against the feed roll and overlying the junction between the feed roll and the lickerin cover have not been satisfactory. In an effort to solve the problem of contaminant discharge from the lickerin regions, pneumatic cleaning devices in the form of suction manifold structures have been developed to effect suction withdrawal of air from various points in the lickerin region. Typical of these is the Rieter U.S. Pat. No. 3,1 15,683, disclos ing a suction nozzle located immediately above the feed roll to draw air from beneath a specially configurated lickerin cover. This device requires special plate constructions to replace the conventional lickerin cover, which in the form which also applies suction to the zone near the back knife plate also requires a perforated zone which disturbs the desirable pressure conditions provided by the conventional lickerin cover to retain the usable long fibers on the lickerin teeth, and is quite expensive to produce. The Bass U.S. Pat. No. no. 3,3l5,320 discloses another suction manifold designed to be mounted over the conventional lickerin cover, providing suction inlets slots immediately adjacent the feed roll edge and the back knife edge of the lickerin cover. However, the size and configuration of the suction intake slots in this construction must be permanently established at the factory during construction of the manifold and it is very ditficult to provide generally uniform suction conditions across the entire width of the carding machine.

Also, it is desirable to provide for the collection and withdrawal of such trash as may fall from the idler sprocket end or bight of the flats chain, where the flats execute a degree turn above the lickerin cylinder and frequently effect dislodgement of fly and trash.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of novel suction manifold structure for use at the lickerin region of carding machines which is of simple and inexpensive construction, which can be easily installed on virtually any conventional carding machine construction, and which defines a suction intake slot along the width of the carding machine above the feed roll to capture trash and fly from the junction between the feed roll and lickerin cover and remove this fly and trash to a remote location.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel suction manifold structure as described in the preceding paragraph, wherein substantially uniform suction conditions are established at opposite lateral sides of the main plenum portion, with the suction conditions established at one side being produced by a return tube which transversely spans the manifold structure so that the suction risers or ducts to the main suction source are connected to only one side of the manifold structure.

Yet another object of the present is the provision of a novel suction manifold structure as described in either of the preceding paragraphs, which defines a substantially V-shaped trough below the flats idler having a slot at the apex thereof communicating with the plenum chamber for removal of trash which falls from the flats chain traversing the flats idler.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. I is a fragmentary side elevation view of a carding machine with the suction manifold assembly of the present invention positioned thereon;

FIG. 2 is a vertical transverse section view, to enlarged scale, of the suction manifold assembly installed at the lickerin section of the carding machine, with fragmentary diagrammatic and sectional illustrations of certain carding machine components;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the suction manifold assembly; and

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section of view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, there is shown in somewhat schematic or diagrammatic form, the lickerin section of a conventional flats carding machine 10, including the usual main cylinder or swift I] having spiked clothing which receives cotton fibers from the teeth of the lickerin cylinder 12. The lickerin cylinder I2 is mounted for rotation about a shaft supported by bearings on the usual apron or main frame of the carding machine, with its teeth extending in close proximity to the spiked clothing on the main cylinder 11, and is covered by a lickerin cover or bonnet l3 which terminates on the left hand or entrance side of the lickerin cylinder in close proximity to a serrated feed roll 14. The right hand or exit side of the lickerin cover 13 and nearer the main cylinder ll of the card terminates in very close proximity to the back knife plate 15. A seal or filler strip 16, conventionally formed of a plush covered wooden wedge or V- strip is shown at its conventional position at the junction between the lickerin cover l3 and the back knife plate 15. S aced above the lickerin cylinder 12 is the idler or lickerin end bight, generally indicated at 17, of the usual flats chain 28 where the flats chain is trained about the idler sprocket 19 on shaft 20.

The incoming lap of cotton enters from the left hand side as viewed in FIG. 2 on top of the feed plate, the nose portion of which is indicated at 2!, and is engaged by the rotating feed roll 14 so as to be driven into the teeth of the lickerin cylinder 12. The cotton is drawn off the lap onto the teeth of the lickerin cylinder and conveyed downwardly as fibers or tufts past the usual series of mote knives (not shown) or past a fiber retriever of conventional construction, and thence to the zone immediately below the lower edge of the back knife plate is where the fibers are either seated on the spiked clothing of the main cylinder II or are reconveyed by the lickerin teeth beneath the lickerin cover 13 to the zone of the feed roll 14.

The suction manifold of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference character 23 and may be described broadly as a generally triangular cross-section plenum chamber 24 located between the flats idler and the lickerin cylinder and laterally spanning the width of the carding machine, defining a downwardly opening suction intake slot 25 of approximately the width of the card spaced a short distance above the feed roll 14 for capturing fly from the junction zone between the feed roll and lickerin cover, and defining an upwardly opening suction intake slot 26 at the bottom apex region of a V shaped trough 27 below the flats idler to capture trash which falls into the trough 27.

Referring more particularly to the details of construction of the suction manifold 23, the plenum chamber portion 24 comprises a pair of generally triangular side plates 30, 30', of similar profile and construction, each formed of sheet metal having broken flanges along the perimeter thereof, indicated at 30a, 30b and 30c, broken outwardly from the transverse center of the plenum chamber 24 for use of the side plates as right hand and lefl hand plenum sides, and each having circular openings. as indicated at 31 and 32, near the center region thereof. An outside panel 33 of generally planar rectangular configuration, and a top panel 34 having a generally rectangular main panel portion 340, and having an upwardly inclined top flange 34b and a downwardly inclined bottom flange 34c at the upper and lower edges of the main panel portion 340, respectively, are spot welded along their lateral edges to the outwardly broken flanges 30a and 30b of the side plates 30, 30'. An inside panel 35 having a planar rectangular main panel portion 35a of considerably greater length longitudinally of the carding machine than the lower inclined edges of the side plates bounded by the flanges 30c is spot welded at its opposite lateral edges to these flanges 300, the inside panel having a downturned flange portion 35!; at its lower end terminating in an inclined lip formation 351: which is interfitted in the recurved U-shaped edge formation 36a of the concave positioning plate 36 which is bolted over the lickerin cover l3 by bolts 37 threaded into tapped openings in the lickerin cylinder end plates.

As is evident from FIG. 2 the bend forming the junction between the downturned flange 35b and the planar main panel portion 350 of the inside panel 35 is spaced toward the main cylinder of the carding machine from the lower edge portion of the outside panel 33 to define the suction intake slot 25 spaced slightly above the feed roll [4. A stiffener 38 for the lower edge portion of the outside panel 33 bounding the slot 25 is spot welded to the outside panel and extends between the vertical wall portions of the side plates 30, 30', the stiffener including a recurved or U-shaped lower edge portion 380 fitted around the lower edge of the outside panel 33 and a main body portion 38b extending upwardly through the slot 25 in inwardly abutting relation to the inner surface of the lower portion of the outside panel 33, the main body portion 38b including a V-shaped stifi'ening ridge formation 380 whose lower leg substantially parallels the main panel portion 350 of the inside panel 35. An adjustable seal strip 39 is frictionally fitted on the upper edge of the inside panel 35 near the back knife plate l5, and comprises a U-shaped portion 39a defining a groove into which the upper edge of the inside panel 35 is slidably fitted and retained by frictional engagement with the two legs of the U-shaped portion, and including a planar portion 39b folded flat against the uppermost leg of the U-shaped portion 390 and extending beyond the bight of the U-shaped formation to engage and seal against the back knife plate IS.

A flats cover 40 comprises a generally vertically extending panel of sheet metal similar to the panels 33, 34 and 35, having a lower vertical panel portion 4] and an upper inclined panel portion 42 inclining somewhat toward the flats from the vertical plane of the lower panel portion 4|. A cover retainer strip 43 formed of two horizontally offset flat portions is secured to the lower region of the lower panel portion 41 to define a downwardly opening groove 43a sized to slidably receive the upper edge of the top panel flange 34b. The flange 34b has vertically elongated slots opening through its upper edge to accommodate the bolts of bolt and nut fastening members 44 extending through the cover retainer strip 43 to releasably secure the flats cover on the manifold. Generally L- shaped mounting brackets 45 are welded to the vertical panel portion 4] adjacent the upper end thereof at each lateral edge, to which downwardly inclined straps 46 are pivoted. The lower end portions of the straps 46 are fastened by threaded bolts 46a extending therethrough into threaded bores of cylindrical trunions 47 welded to the flanges of an angle reinforcement beam 48 which transversely spans and underlies the inside panel 35 to which it is welded. In the mid-region of the straps 46, they are adjustably fastened by bolt and slot connections as indicated generally at 49 to mounting brackets 50 fitted over the flats idler axle or shaft 20 and adjustable thereon by reason of the slot 50' in each bracket 50.

Short tube sections 51, 51' are welded to the side plates 30, 30' concentric with the openings 31, 32 therein to form nippies or duct fittings at the opposite sides of the main plenum chamber 24. For example, the tube sections 51, 51' may have circular outwardly projecting flanges located inwardly adjacent and abutting the side plates 30, 30' with the cylindrical portions of the tube sections extending through the openings 31, 32 and projecting an appropriate distance outwardly from the side plates. A return tube 52 of an axial length corresponding to the width of the manifold chamber 24 plus the axial length of the two short tube sections 5|, 51' is located in the region immediately below the inside panel 35 and between the angle reinforcement 48 and the back knife plate 15. The return tube 52 and short tube sections 51, 51' may each be formed, for example, from 3 inch diameter cylindrical ducting.

A I80 elbow section 53 of tubing having a diameter approximating that of the return tube 52 and the short tubes 51, 51' is fitted onto and sealed on one end of the return tube 52 and on the short tube at the corresponding side of the plenum chamber 24, for example the short tube section 51' at the left hand side of the manifold structure as viewed in FIG. 4. The other end of the return tube 52 and the other short tube section 51 are connected, in the illustrated embodiment, to two inlet nipples 54, 54 which extend in parallelism at right angles to the axis of a short section 55 of cylindrical tubing and form with the section 55 a double inlet adaptor $6. The section 55 is of slightly greater diameter than the return tube 52, for example 4 inch diameter cylindrical ducting, and is closed at one end by a closure cap 56a. The other end of the section 55 is connected to a suction riser duct 57 leading to the lint collecting facility of the air handling system of the mill, for example, the filter unit coupled to the main suction source, indicated diagrammatically at 58, through which suction is applied to the various manifolds of the carding machines and at which the fly and trash are collected.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, the suction manifold assembly 23 can be readily installed in the con stricted region between the lickerin cover, the back knife plate, and the flats chain of conventional carding machines. The manifold unit is mounted securely to the carding machine by fitting the slots 50' in the brackets 50 connected to the two supporting straps 46 over the opposite ends of the flats idler axle or shaft 20. The lower section of the manifold structure is securely mounted by fitting the positioning plate 36 over the lickerin cover 13 and fixing the positioning plate in position by the screws or bolts 37 threaded into the tapped holes in the lickerin cylinder end plates. The usual wedge type seal 16 is fitted in the region of the juncture between the lickerin cover l3 and the back knife plate [5, and the sealing roller, or feed roll cover, which may frequently be present in the usual carding machine between the feel roll and the lickerin cover is removed. When suction or negative pressure conditions are applied to the opposite ends of the manifold chamber 24 through the tube section 51 at one side thereof and the return tube 52, elbow section 53 and tube section 51' at the other end thereof, fly and trash is sucked into the suction inlet slot 25 defined between the lower portion of the stiffener 38 on the outside panel 33 and the junction between the panel portion 350 and flange 35b of the inside panel 35. Also, the top panel 34 and the portion of the inside panel 35 projecting toward the back knife plate from the region of the angle reinforcement 48 define a V-shaped trough 27 into which trash may fall and be withdrawn by the suction applied at the intake slot 26 adjacent the apex of the V-shaped trough 27. Thus the suction intake slot 25 cleans the feed roll area, and the intake slot 26 removes the trash which falls into the trough 27. The flats cover 40 is a protective shield which keeps the reserved lap from engaging the flats and also prevents the carding attendant from injuring his hands when moving the reserved lap.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

I. In a carding machine having a feed roll, main cylinder, a lickerin therebetween, a back knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinder periphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having an edge parallelling the lickerin axis and adjacent the feed roll, the junction region between said edge and said feed roll being imperfectly sealed whereby a fly escape zone occurs thereat through which fly is discharged,

and a flats chain of clothed flats having a bight spaced above said lickerin cover; a suction manifold assembly overlying said lickerin cover between the latter and said flats chain bight for capturing fly and trash escaping from said fly escape zone and removing the same to an external collecting station, said suction manifold assembly comprising a pair of side walls of substantially triangular configuration located in vertical planes adjacent the opposite sides of the carding machine and first, second and third transverse wall panels transversely spanning the carding machine and joined at their opposite ends to said side walls coacting therewith to define a plenum chamber of triangular cross-section extending across the width of the carding machine, said first wall panel being disposed in a substantially vertical plane above the feed roll, said first and second wall panels having spaced portions defining a first suction intake slot spanning the width of the plenum chamber and located adjacent and above said fly escape zone at the junction between said feed roll and said edge of said lickerin cover to draw in air and capture fly from the region of said fly escape zone, said said second wall panel including an extension portion, said extension portion and said third wall panel defining a V-shaped trough underlying said flats chain bight to collect trash falling from the flats chain, portions of two of said transverse wall panels defining a second suction intake slot into said plenum chamber adjacent the apex of said V-shaped trough for withdrawing trash which falls therein into said plenum chamber, and means coupled to both of said side walls for applying suction pressure to the interior of the plenum chamber adjacent each of the side walls.

2. A suction manifold assembly for a carding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said side walls have coupling openings therein, said last-mentioned means including a return tube spanning the width of the carding machine between the plenum chamber and the back knife plate, elbow conduit means extending from one end of the return tube to the coupling opening in one of said side walls, and suction riser means connecting a suction source to the other end of said return tube and to the coupling opening in the other side wall.

3. A suction manifold assembly for a carding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said second wall panel extends along a plane which inclines upwardly from a location spaced a short distance above said feed roll to an upper edge immediately below the flats chain bight near the back knife plate, and an adjustable seal strip having a U-shaped portion slidably fitted on said upper edge of the lower inclined panel and a strip portion extending therefrom in sealing abutment with the back knife plate, said inclined panel defining the lower wall of the plenum chamber and extending therebeyond to define one side of said V-shaped trough.

4. A suction manifold assembly for a carding machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said second wall panel extends along a plane which inclines upwardly from a location spaced a short distance above said feed roll to an upper edge immediately below the flats chain bight near the back knife plate, and an adjustable seal strip having a U-shaped portion slidably fitted on said upper edge of the lower inclined panel and a strip portion extending therefrom in sealing abutment with the back knife plate, said inclined panel defining the lower wall of the plenum chamber and extending therebeyond to define one side of said V-shaped trough.

5. A suction manifold assembly for a carding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said second wall panel includes a planar body portion extending in upwardly inclined relation toward the back knife plate from a bend axis spaced from said first wall panel the width of said first intake slot, said second wall panel having a downwardly directed flange portion extending from said body portion at said bend axis and terminating in a lower lip portion disposed in tangential relation to the lickerin cover, and a positioning plate fastened in overlying relation to the lickerin cover having a recurved edge formation defining a groove into which said lip is interfitted.

6. A suction manifold assembly for a carding machine as defined in claim 3, wherein said second wall panel extends from a bend defining the lower edge thereof spaced from said first intake slot, said second wall panel having a downwardly directed flange portion extending from said body portion at said bend and terminating in a lower lip portion disposed in tangential relation to the lickerin cover, and a positioning plate fastened in overlying relation to the lickerin cover having a recurved edge formation defining a groove into which said lip is interfitted.

7. A suction manifold assembly for a carding machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said second wall panel extends from a bend defining the lower edge thereof spaced from said first intake slot, said second wall panel having a downwardly directed flange portion extending from said body portion at said bend and terminating in a lower lip portion disposed in tangential relation to the lickerin cover, and a positioning plate fastened in overlying relation to the lickerin cover having a recurved edge formation defining a groove into which said lip is interfitted.

8. A suction manifold assembly for carding machines as defined in claim 1, including a flats cover panel coupled to said vertical wall panel and extending upwardly therefrom above the level of the axis of the bight of said flats chain, a pair of elongated rigid strap members pivotally mounted at their upper ends to opposite side edge portions of said flats cover panel and having trunion formations secured to lower ends of the strap members and extending in supporting relation beneath the second wall panel near said second suction intake slot, the carding machine including an idler sprocket assembly at said bight having an idler axle, and said suction manifold as sembly including bracket members coupled by fastener and slot connections to intermediate portions of said strap members and by slot connections to opposite end portions of said idler axle to contribute support to said manifold assembly.

9. A suction manifold assembly for carding machines as defined in claim 5, including a flats cover panel coupled to said first wall panel and extending upwardly therefrom above the level of the axis of the bight of said flats chain, a pair of elongated rigid strap members pivotally mounted at their upper ends to opposite side edge portions of said flats cover panel and having trunion formations secured to lower ends of the strap members and extending in supporting relation beneath the second wall panel near said second suction intake slot, the carding machine including an idler sprocket assembly at said bight having an idler axle, and said suction manifold assembly including bracket members coupled by fastener and slot connections to intermediate portions of said strap members and by slot connections to opposite end portions of said idler axle to coact with said positioning plate and said lip of said second wall panel in supporting the manifold assembly on the carding machine.

10. In a carding machine having a feed roll, a main cylinder, a lickerin therebetween, a back knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinder periphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having an edge parallelling the lickerin axis and adjacent the feed roll, the junction region between said edge and said feed roll being imperfectly sealed whereby a fly escape zone occurs thereat through which fly is discharged, and a flats chain of clothed flats having a bight spaced above said lickerin cover; a suction manifold assembly overlying said lickerin cover between the latter and said flats chain bight for capturing fly and a trash escaping from said fly escape zone and removing the same to an external collecting station, said suction manifold assembly comprising a pair of side walls, of substantially triangular configuration located in vertical planes adjacent the opposite sides of the carding machine and first, second and third transverse wall panels transversely spanning the carding machine and joined at their opposite ends to said side walls coacting therewith to define a plenum chamber of triangular cross-section extending across the width of the carding machine, said first wall panel being disposed in a substantially vertical plane above the feed roll,

and first and second wall panels having spaced portions defining a first section intake slot spanning the width of the plenum chamber and located adjacent and above said fly escape zone at the junction between said feed roll and said edge of said lickerin cover to draw in air and capture fly from the region of said fly escape zone, said second wall panel having an extension portion, said extension portion and said third wall panel defining a V-shaped trough underlying said flats chain bight to collect trash falling from the flats chain, portions of two of said transverse wall panels defining a second suction intake slot into said plenum chamber adjacent the apex of said V-shaped trough for withdrawing trash which falls therein into said plenum chamber, said side walls each having an opening therein alined along a common horizontal axis, short tube sections fixed in said openings defining connection nipple fittings at opposite ends of the plenum chamber, a return tube spanning the width of the carding machine located externally of the plenum chamber between the latter and back knife plate, elbow conduit means extending from one end of said return tube to one of said nipple fittings, and suction riser means located adjacent one side of the carding machine coupling a suction source with the other end of said return tube and with the other of said nipple fittings whereby suction pressure is applied to the interior of the plenum chamber inwardl y adjacent each of said opposite side walls.

11. In a carding machine having a feed roll, main cylinder, a lickerin there between, a back knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinder periphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having an edge parallelling the lickerin axis and adjacent the feed roll, the junction region between said edge and said feed roll being imperfectly sealed whereby a fly escape zone occurs thereat through which fly is discharged, and a flats chain of clothed flats having a bight spaced above said lickerin cover; a suction manifold assembly overlying said lickerin cover between the latter and said flats chain bight for capturing fly and trash escaping from said fly escape zone and removing the same to an external collecting station, said suction manifold assembly comprising a pair of side walls of substantially triangular configuration located in vertical planes adjacent the opposite sides of the carding machine and a venical transverse wall panel and upper and lower transverse wall panels transversely spanning the carding machine and joined at their opposite ends to said side walls coacting therewith to define a plenum chamber of triangular cross-section extending across the width of the carding machine, said vertical wall panel having its lower edge located a short distance above the feed roll and said upper and lower wall panels extending along inclined planes converging toward the back knife plate, the lower and vertical wall panels having spaced portions defining a first suction intake slot spanning the width of the plenum chamber and located adjacent and above said fly escape zone at the junction between said feed roll and said edge of said lickerin cover to draw in air and capture fly from the region of said fly escape zone, said lower transverse wall panels including a portion extending toward the back knife plate beyond the upper wall panel and coacting with the latter to define a V- shaped trough underlying said flats chain bight to collect trash falling from the flats chain, the upper wall panel having its lower edge spaced from the lower wall panel defining a second suction intake slot into said plenum chamber adjacent the apex of said V-shaped trough for withdrawing trash which falls therein into said plenum chamber, said side walls each having an opening therein alined along a common horizontal axis, short tube sections fixed in said openings defining connection nipple fittings at opposite ends of the plenum chamber, a return tube spanning the width of the carding machine located externally of the plenum chamber between the latter and the back knife plate, elbow conduit means extending from one end of said return tube to one of said nipple fittings, and suction riser means located adjacent one side of the carding machine coupling a suction source with the other end of said return tube and with the other of said nipple fittings whereby suction pressure is applied to the interior of the plenum chamber inwardly adjacent each of said opposite side walls.

12. A suction manifold assembly for carding machines as defined in claim 11, wherein said lower wall panel has a major portion of rectangular planar configuration extending along an upwardly inclined plane toward the back knife plate from a bend thereof bounding said first intake slot, said lower panel having a downwardly extending flange portion joining said major portion at said bend and terminating in a lower lip, and a positioning plate fastened in overlying relation to the lickerin cover having a recurved edge portion defining a groove for slidably receiving said lower lip in interfitting relation therein.

13. A suction manifold assembly for a carding machine as defined in claim 11, wherein said lower wall panel extends to an upper edge immediately below the flats chain bight near the back knife plate, and an adjustable seal strip having a U- shaped portion slidably fitted on said upper edge of the lower inclined panel and an integral strip portion extending therefrom in sealing abutment with the back knife plate.

14. A suction manifold assembly for a carding machine as defined in claim 12, wherein said lower wall panel extends to an upper edge immediately below the flats chain bight near the back knife plate, and an adjustable seal strip having a U- shaped portion slidably fitted on said upper edge of the lower inclined panel and an integral strip portion extending therefrom in sealing abutment with the back knife plate.

15. A suction manifold assembly for carding machines as defined in claim ll, including a flats cover panel coupled to said vertical wall panel and extending upwardly therefrom above the level of the axis of the bight of said flats chain, a pair of rigid strap members pivotally mounted at their upper ends to opposite side edge portions of said flats cover panel and having trunion formations secured to lower ends of the strap members and extending in supporting relation beneath said lower wall panel near said second suction intake slot, the carding machine including an idler sprocket assembly at said bight having an idler axle, and said suction manifold assembly including bracket members coupled by fastener and slot connections to intermediate portions of said strap members and by slot connections to opposite end portions of said idler axle to contribute support to said manifold assembly.

16. A suction manifold assembly for carding machines as defined in claim 12, including a flats cover panel coupled to said vertical wall panel and extending upwardly therefrom above the level of the axis of the bight of said flats chain. a pair of elongated rigid strap members pivotally mounted at their upper ends to opposite side edge portions of said flats cover panel and having trunion formations secured to lower ends of the strap members and extruding in supporting relation beneath said lower wall panel near said second suction intake slot, the carding machine including an idler sprocket assembly at said bight having an idler axle, and said suction manifold assembly including bracket members coupled by fastener and slot connections to intermediate portions of said strap membets and by slot connections to opposite end portions of said idler axle to coact with said positioning plate and said lip of said lower wall panel in supporting the manifold assembly on the carding machine 17. A suction manifold assembly for carding machines as defined in claim l4, including a flats cover panel coupled to said vertical wall panel and extending upwardly therefrom above the level of the axis of the bight of said flats chain, a pair of elongated rigid strap members pivotally mounted at their upper ends to opposite side edge portions of said flats cover panel and having trunion formations secured to lower ends of the strap members and extending in supporting relation beneath said lower wall panel near said second suction intake slot, the carding machine including an idler sprocket assembly at said bight having an idler axle, and said suction manifold as sembly including bracket members coupled by fastener and slot connections to intermediate portions of said strap members and by slot connections to opposite end portions of said idler axle to coact with said ositioning plate and said lip of said lower wall panel in supporting the manifold assembly on the carding machine.

l i i 

1. In a carding machine having a feed roll, main cylinder, a lickerin therebetween, a back knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinder periphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having an edge parallelling the lickerin axis and adjacent the feed roll, the junction region between said edge and said feed roll being imperfectly sealed whereby a fly escape zone occurs thereat through which fly is discharged, and a flats chain of clothed flats having a bight spaced above said lickerin cover; a suction manifold assembly overlying said lickerin cover between the latter and said flats chain bight for capturing fly and trash escaping from said fly escape zone and removing the same to an external collecting station, said suction manifold assembly comprising a pair of side walls of substantially triangular configuration located in vertical planes adjacent the opposite sides of the carding machine and first, second and third transverse wall panels transversely spanning the carding machine and joined at their opposite ends to said side walls coacting therewith to define a plenum chamber of triangular cross-section extending across the width of the carding machine, said first wall panel being disposed in a substantially vertical plane above the feed roll, said first and second wall panels having spaced portions defining a first suction intake slot spanning the width of the plenum chamber and located adjacent and above said fly escape zone at the junction between said feed roll and said edge of said lickerin cover to draw in air and capture fly from the region of said fly escape zone, said said second wall panel including an extension portion, said extension portion and said third wall panel defining a V-shaped trough underlying said flats chain bight to collect trash falling from the flats chain, portions of two of said transverse wall panels defining a second suction intake slot into said plenum chamber adjacent the apex of said V-shaped trough for withdrawing trash which falls therein into said plenum chamber, and means coupled to both of said side walls for applying suction pressure to the interior of the plenum chamber adjacent each of the side walls.
 2. A suction manifold assembly for a carding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said side walls have coupling openings therein, said last-mentioned means including a return tube spanning the width of the carding machine between the plenum chamber and the back knife plate, elbow conduit means extending from one end of the return tube to the coupling opening in one of said side walls, and suction riser means connecting a suction source to the other end of said return tube and to the coupling opening in the other side wall.
 3. A suction manifold assembly for a carding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said second wall panel extends along a plane which inclines upwardly from a location spaced a short distance above said feed roll to an upper edge immediately below the flats chain bight near the back knife plate, and an adjustable seal strip having a U-shaped portion slidably fitted on said upper edge of the lower inclined panel and a strip portion extending therefrom in sealing abutment with the back knife plate, said inclined panel defining the lower wall of the plenum chamber and extending therebeyond to define one side of said V-shaped trough.
 4. A suction manifold assembly for a carding machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said second wall panel extends along a plane which inclines upwardly from a location spaced a short distance above said feed roll to an upper edge immediately below the flats chain bight near the back knife plate, and an adjustable seal strip having a U-shaped portion slidably fitted on said upper edge of the lower inclined panel and a strip portion extending therefrom in sealing abutment with the back knife plate, said inclined panel defining the lower wall of the plenum chamber and extending therebeyond to define one side of said V-shaped trough.
 5. A suction manifold assembly for a carding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said second wall panel includes a planar body portion extending in upwardly inclined relation toward the back knife plate from a bend axis spaced from said first wall panel the width of said first intake slot, said second wall panel having a downwardly directed flange portion extending from said body portion at said bend axis and terminating in a lower lip portion disposed in tangential relation to the lickerin cover, and a positioning plate fastened in overlying relation to the lickerin cover having a recurved edge formation defining a groove into which said lip is interfitted.
 6. A suction manifold assembly for a carding machine as defined in claim 3, wherein said second wall panel extends from a bend defining the lower edge thereof spaced from said first intake slot, said second wall panel having a downwardly directed flange portion extending from said body portion at said bend and terminating in a lower lip portion disposed in tangential relation to the lickerin cover, and a positioning plate fastened in overlying relation to the lickerin cover having a recurved edge formation defining a groove into which said lip is interfitted.
 7. A suction manifold assembly for a carding machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said second wall panel extends from a bend defining the lower edge thereof spaced from said first intake slot, said second wall panel having a downwardly directed flange portion extending from said body portion at said bend and terminating in a lower lip portion disposed in tangential relation to the lickerin cover, and a positioning plate fastened in overlying relation to the lickerin cover having a recurved edge formation defining a groove into which said lip is interfitted.
 8. A suction manifold assembly for carding machines as defined in claim 1, including a flats cover panel coupled to said vertical wall panel and extending upwardly therefrom above the level of the axis of the bight of said flats chaIn, a pair of elongated rigid strap members pivotally mounted at their upper ends to opposite side edge portions of said flats cover panel and having trunion formations secured to lower ends of the strap members and extending in supporting relation beneath the second wall panel near said second suction intake slot, the carding machine including an idler sprocket assembly at said bight having an idler axle, and said suction manifold assembly including bracket members coupled by fastener and slot connections to intermediate portions of said strap members and by slot connections to opposite end portions of said idler axle to contribute support to said manifold assembly.
 9. A suction manifold assembly for carding machines as defined in claim 5, including a flats cover panel coupled to said first wall panel and extending upwardly therefrom above the level of the axis of the bight of said flats chain, a pair of elongated rigid strap members pivotally mounted at their upper ends to opposite side edge portions of said flats cover panel and having trunion formations secured to lower ends of the strap members and extending in supporting relation beneath the second wall panel near said second suction intake slot, the carding machine including an idler sprocket assembly at said bight having an idler axle, and said suction manifold assembly including bracket members coupled by fastener and slot connections to intermediate portions of said strap members and by slot connections to opposite end portions of said idler axle to coact with said positioning plate and said lip of said second wall panel in supporting the manifold assembly on the carding machine.
 10. In a carding machine having a feed roll, a main cylinder, a lickerin therebetween, a back knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinder periphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having an edge parallelling the lickerin axis and adjacent the feed roll, the junction region between said edge and said feed roll being imperfectly sealed whereby a fly escape zone occurs thereat through which fly is discharged, and a flats chain of clothed flats having a bight spaced above said lickerin cover; a suction manifold assembly overlying said lickerin cover between the latter and said flats chain bight for capturing fly and a trash escaping from said fly escape zone and removing the same to an external collecting station, said suction manifold assembly comprising a pair of side walls, of substantially triangular configuration located in vertical planes adjacent the opposite sides of the carding machine and first, second and third transverse wall panels transversely spanning the carding machine and joined at their opposite ends to said side walls coacting therewith to define a plenum chamber of triangular cross-section extending across the width of the carding machine, said first wall panel being disposed in a substantially vertical plane above the feed roll, and first and second wall panels having spaced portions defining a first section intake slot spanning the width of the plenum chamber and located adjacent and above said fly escape zone at the junction between said feed roll and said edge of said lickerin cover to draw in air and capture fly from the region of said fly escape zone, said second wall panel having an extension portion, said extension portion and said third wall panel defining a V-shaped trough underlying said flats chain bight to collect trash falling from the flats chain, portions of two of said transverse wall panels defining a second suction intake slot into said plenum chamber adjacent the apex of said V-shaped trough for withdrawing trash which falls therein into said plenum chamber, said side walls each having an opening therein alined along a common horizontal axis, short tube sections fixed in said openings defining connection nipple fittings at opposite ends of the plenum chamber, a return tube spanning the width of the carding machine located externally of the plenum chamber between the latter and back knife plate, elbow conduit means extending from one end of said return tube to one of said nipple fittings, and suction riser means located adjacent one side of the carding machine coupling a suction source with the other end of said return tube and with the other of said nipple fittings whereby suction pressure is applied to the interior of the plenum chamber inwardly adjacent each of said opposite side walls.
 11. In a carding machine having a feed roll, main cylinder, a lickerin therebetween, a back knife plate covering a portion of the main cylinder periphery adjacent the lickerin, a curved lickerin cover having an edge parallelling the lickerin axis and adjacent the feed roll, the junction region between said edge and said feed roll being imperfectly sealed whereby a fly escape zone occurs thereat through which fly is discharged, and a flats chain of clothed flats having a bight spaced above said lickerin cover; a suction manifold assembly overlying said lickerin cover between the latter and said flats chain bight for capturing fly and trash escaping from said fly escape zone and removing the same to an external collecting station, said suction manifold assembly comprising a pair of side walls of substantially triangular configuration located in vertical planes adjacent the opposite sides of the carding machine and a vertical transverse wall panel and upper and lower transverse wall panels transversely spanning the carding machine and joined at their opposite ends to said side walls coacting therewith to define a plenum chamber of triangular cross-section extending across the width of the carding machine, said vertical wall panel having its lower edge located a short distance above the feed roll and said upper and lower wall panels extending along inclined planes converging toward the back knife plate, the lower and vertical wall panels having spaced portions defining a first suction intake slot spanning the width of the plenum chamber and located adjacent and above said fly escape zone at the junction between said feed roll and said edge of said lickerin cover to draw in air and capture fly from the region of said fly escape zone, said lower transverse wall panels including a portion extending toward the back knife plate beyond the upper wall panel and coacting with the latter to define a V-shaped trough underlying said flats chain bight to collect trash falling from the flats chain, the upper wall panel having its lower edge spaced from the lower wall panel defining a second suction intake slot into said plenum chamber adjacent the apex of said V-shaped trough for withdrawing trash which falls therein into said plenum chamber, said side walls each having an opening therein alined along a common horizontal axis, short tube sections fixed in said openings defining connection nipple fittings at opposite ends of the plenum chamber, a return tube spanning the width of the carding machine located externally of the plenum chamber between the latter and the back knife plate, elbow conduit means extending from one end of said return tube to one of said nipple fittings, and suction riser means located adjacent one side of the carding machine coupling a suction source with the other end of said return tube and with the other of said nipple fittings whereby suction pressure is applied to the interior of the plenum chamber inwardly adjacent each of said opposite side walls.
 12. A suction manifold assembly for carding machines as defined in claim 11, wherein said lower wall panel has a major portion of rectangular planar configuration extending along an upwardly inclined plane toward the back knife plate from a bend thereof bounding said first intake slot, said lower panel having a downwardly extending flange portion joining said major portion at said bend and terminating in a lower lip, and a positioning plate fastened in overlying relation to the lickerin cover having a recurved edge portion defining a groove for slidably receiving said lower lip in interfitting reLation therein.
 13. A suction manifold assembly for a carding machine as defined in claim 11, wherein said lower wall panel extends to an upper edge immediately below the flats chain bight near the back knife plate, and an adjustable seal strip having a U-shaped portion slidably fitted on said upper edge of the lower inclined panel and an integral strip portion extending therefrom in sealing abutment with the back knife plate.
 14. A suction manifold assembly for a carding machine as defined in claim 12, wherein said lower wall panel extends to an upper edge immediately below the flats chain bight near the back knife plate, and an adjustable seal strip having a U-shaped portion slidably fitted on said upper edge of the lower inclined panel and an integral strip portion extending therefrom in sealing abutment with the back knife plate.
 15. A suction manifold assembly for carding machines as defined in claim 11, including a flats cover panel coupled to said vertical wall panel and extending upwardly therefrom above the level of the axis of the bight of said flats chain, a pair of rigid strap members pivotally mounted at their upper ends to opposite side edge portions of said flats cover panel and having trunion formations secured to lower ends of the strap members and extending in supporting relation beneath said lower wall panel near said second suction intake slot, the carding machine including an idler sprocket assembly at said bight having an idler axle, and said suction manifold assembly including bracket members coupled by fastener and slot connections to intermediate portions of said strap members and by slot connections to opposite end portions of said idler axle to contribute support to said manifold assembly.
 16. A suction manifold assembly for carding machines as defined in claim 12, including a flats cover panel coupled to said vertical wall panel and extending upwardly therefrom above the level of the axis of the bight of said flats chain, a pair of elongated rigid strap members pivotally mounted at their upper ends to opposite side edge portions of said flats cover panel and having trunion formations secured to lower ends of the strap members and extruding in supporting relation beneath said lower wall panel near said second suction intake slot, the carding machine including an idler sprocket assembly at said bight having an idler axle, and said suction manifold assembly including bracket members coupled by fastener and slot connections to intermediate portions of said strap members and by slot connections to opposite end portions of said idler axle to coact with said positioning plate and said lip of said lower wall panel in supporting the manifold assembly on the carding machine.
 17. A suction manifold assembly for carding machines as defined in claim 14, including a flats cover panel coupled to said vertical wall panel and extending upwardly therefrom above the level of the axis of the bight of said flats chain, a pair of elongated rigid strap members pivotally mounted at their upper ends to opposite side edge portions of said flats cover panel and having trunion formations secured to lower ends of the strap members and extending in supporting relation beneath said lower wall panel near said second suction intake slot, the carding machine including an idler sprocket assembly at said bight having an idler axle, and said suction manifold assembly including bracket members coupled by fastener and slot connections to intermediate portions of said strap members and by slot connections to opposite end portions of said idler axle to coact with said positioning plate and said lip of said lower wall panel in supporting the manifold assembly on the carding machine. 